UNION officials are warning that universities and colleges are facing a teacher shortage similar to that experienced by some schools.

The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (Natfhe) says immediate action is needed to stop the problem getting worse - and to stop college lecturers moving to teach in schools or to take up posts in industry.

It says poor pay is a major problem, with some further education lecturers earning #5,000 less than a newly qualified teacher, despite an 80 per cent increase in student numbers over the past five years.

The union recently highlighted the issue with a national one-day strike which affected further education colleges in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Paul Mackney, Natfhe general secretary, said: "It is not just schools which face a teacher shortage.